Math 4B Information Page

Overall Class percentage= [75(the sum of earned exam points divided by the total possible points)+5(earned quiz points divided by total possible)+5(earned homework points divided by total possible)+15(earned final exam points divided by total possible)]÷100*

*To compute your grade prior to the final, exclude the final exam portion and divide the total by 85 instead of 100.

·         4 one-hour Chapter Exams will be given during the semester (see calendar for tentative dates).

·         One missed Chapter Exam may be made up.  You have one week from the exam date to do this.

·         If you know you will be absent you can make arrangements to take the exam early so you don't use up your one exam make-up.

·         Your homework percentage will be used to replace your lowest exam grade (provided it is higher).

·         Each exam is scaled to be worth 100 points.

·         You may use one 3x5 card (both sides) for exams.

·         Don’t worry about bringing in blue books, scantrons, or scratch paper for chapter exams; I will provide everything. 

·         Quizzes will be given half way through each chapter and will be announced the class meeting prior to the quiz. Each quiz is worth 20 points.

·         Quizzes may not be made up. 

·         One quiz score will be dropped.

• Homework will be collected on quiz days and exam days; you will be allowed to use the homework as notes for the quiz but not on exams.  (Sections due on quiz days are the sections covered on the quiz, sections due on test days are the rest of the sections covered in the chapter after the quiz sections.)
• Each section of homework is worth 5 points. (A packet of 3 sections then would be worth 15 points)
• Your homework percentage will replace your lowest chapter exam grade.

·     Late homework will not be accepted.

1.        Your name and course must be written clearly on the top right of the front page for each section.

2.        Clearly label and begin each section on a new page (do not run the sections together).

3.        All sections must be stapled together and in the proper order.

4.        Each problem must be honestly attempted; work must be shown and done neatly.

5.        Write the problem (or question, you may summarize it) and show the mathematical steps that lead to your solution, with (if possible) a check for accuracy. 

6.        Credit will not be given for answers without supporting work.

             *Failure to follow instructions will result in point deductions

·         Lab Assignments are written with the assumption that you have access to computers; including Maple software.  The software you will need is available on the computers in the Math Lab.

·         The Final Exam will be a comprehensive two-hour Blue Book exam. The Final Exam may not be taken prior to Final Exam Week.

·         The final exam is optional for those students with a 90% or higher class percentage.

·         We have a choice of days for the final exam:  Monday, May 21^st or Wednesday, May 23^rd 8-9:50 pm.  (We will choose as a class as finals week approaches.)

·         Consistent attendance is essential for success in this class.

·         Attendance will be taken using a check in method.

·         BE ON TIME!! If you must be late enter quietly and quickly take a seat.

·         You are responsible for all material discussed in class (whether or not it is covered in the text) and all announcements made in class.

Perfect attendance-You will receive 2% points to your overall grade

1 absence-You will receive 1% point to your overall grade

·         It is your responsibility to drop the class if you find you can no longer attend. However, I reserve the right to drop you from the class if you miss more than eight hours of class time.

·         Notice this does not mean that you can assume that I will handle the drop for you, so if you decide to no longer attend make sure you drop the course or I will be forced to give you an FW.

·         I will drop students three times during the semester.  These drops will be handled when progress reports are due and will be posted on my website. 

·         It is your responsibility to check to see if you have been dropped;  if you wish to be added back into the class you must meet with me to discuss the reason for the drop and what changes will take place for you to re-enroll in the course.

·         I expect that any work that you turn in is your own but it is o.k. to work together in study groups for homework assignments.

·         I allow homework as notes on quizzes (not exams) but no other material is allowed. Calculators will be allowed on some, but not all quizzes and exams.

·         A 3x5 card will be allowed on exams.

·         The following is a list of what I consider to be cheating on an exam or quiz in this course: by providing or receiving information by showing another student your paper, by giving another student information, or by bringing in or consulting notes when they are not allowed.

·         There is also an outside of class form of cheating which is to ask other students what is on the exam before you take the exam. After you take the exam is the time to speak with others who have taken the exam.

1^st offense: If you are caught cheating you will receive a grade of zero on that quiz or test.

2^nd offense: If you are caught a second time I will petition to have you dropped from the course. This will result in a notation of this on your academic record.

·         Please turn cell phones & pagers off (or to vibrate) while in class. If your cell phone or pager rings accidentally in class, please turn it off immediately and return the call outside of class time.

·         Do not continuously walk in and out of class answering phone calls, this is distracting and unnecessary.  If you are that busy and are needed with that much frequency you might as well not be in class that day and I will ask you to leave.

·         Cell phones, PDA’s, and other electronic devices (other than graphing calculators such as a TI-86) may not be on your desk during a test.

1. Read the text sections prior to their being discussed in class.  Reading the next section will introduce you to new concepts and ideas before they are introduced.  Come to class prepared to ask questions about any new concepts which are not clear after reading the text.
2. Do all the assigned homework immediately after the section has been discussed in class.  When you work the homework, you should work a group of problems at a time before checking your answers with those in the back of the text.  Be sure you make an honest attempt at a problem before looking up the answer.  Many students become very good at working backwards from the answers to obtain solutions to problems:  unfortunately, the answers are not provided on exam problems so you must be able to work problems from the beginning to the end.
3. If you have questions about the homework problems, get your questions answered as they arise, either in class, the Math Lab, or during my office hours.  Do not save up your questions for the day before the exam!
4. Spend some time every day on this course.  Spending a small amount of time each day will be more productive than saving up all your work for the weekend or the week or the day before the exam.